In the first of one of the most eagerly awaited matchups of the season, N.C . State (15-5, 4-1 ACC) takes on No. 8 North Carolina (16-3, 3-1 ACC) at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
The Pack goes into the game tied for first in the ACC, a phenomenon that has not been common in recent years. However, they will not read too much into that stat as the Pack looks for its first win against the Heels in almost five years, having lost 10 consecutive games during that period.
It’s the 220th matchup between two of the top three highest scoring teams in the ACC this year. Both will try to keep their momentum going, each having lost one of their last 10 matches.
Junior center Richard Howell felt the team is looking to keep its focus going into the game.
“We just want to go in and play focused,” Howell said. “We don’t want to go in and have any let downs or any lack of focus.
“If we play hard as a team, five people on the court going hard, then we can come up with the win.”
Howell, who has six double-doubles in the last nine games and is tied second in the ACC for rebounds, gave credit to head coach Mark Gottfried for helping him become a better player.
“I am just doing what Coach wants me to do,” Howell said. “I am going out there and getting some rebounds and putting the ball in the basket when I need to.”
In a game that garners special focus amongst both team’s fans, one player who will have the spotlight on him is junior guard Scott Wood.
During the game against Miami, Wood broke the all-time ACC record for the most consecutive free throws made, previously held by former Duke and current Orlando Magic guard J.J . Reddick .
Wood felt he knew what he had to do and was focused on his game despite all the attention he was getting.
“It doesn’t have a lot of effect on me,” Wood said. “I know my role, and that is to knock down shots and play some good solid defense.
“When the opportunity comes to me and if I get a good look, it’s my job to knock it down. “
Wood, who leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.443) and three-pointers made (53), felt his opponent has good players that they needed to be careful against.
“I know Harrison Barnes is leading them in scoring right now,” Wood said. “They also got the leading assist man in the nation right now in Kendall Marshall. Tyler Zeller and John Henson are big men; we definitely got to stop them.
“They definitely have a lot of good assets.”
Gottfried , who has never coached against the Heels, felt the team is happy with the way it is playing, but is also aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
“We’re coming off a nice win,” Gottfried said. “But I think for us what’s good about our team right now is I think we’re well aware that we have a lot of room to improve and we can get a lot better.
“I feel good that we were able to win a road game this weekend. But I think at the same time, we’re realistic to know that we’ve got a long, long way to go.”
Gottfried felt UNC’s height would create a lot of problems for the Pack and said his team would try its best to make up for what it lacked in that department.
“Well, we’re not very big. And we know that,” Gottfried said. “We have to compensate for a lack of height with quickness or toughness and see if we can overcome that.”
According to Gottfried , the biggest challenge his team faces Thursday night would be in rebounding. The Heels lead the nation with 46.3 rebounds per game.
“They are really good at their length and where it helps them,” Gottfried said. “They are a terrific offensive rebounding team. A lot of times even if they don’t secure the ball, they can keep it alive and tap it, and eventually come up with the ball.
“We have to do a great job in this particular game of securing a defensive rebound and that’s going to be a challenge for our team.”
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m . tonight and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
